Halsted Triangle Plan to guide growth along North Branch Canal

Peter Strazzabosco 312.744.9267

An extended riverwalk, new pedestrian bridges to Goose Island and numerous transit and streetscape improvements are among the goals of the "Halsted Triangle Plan" approved today by the Chicago Plan Commission.

Coordinated by the departments of Transportation, Zoning & Land Use Planning, and Community Development, the plan presents a dozen objectives to guide growth within the 16-block, triangle-shaped area bounded by Halsted Street, North Avenue and the Chicago River's North Branch Canal.

"With the area's ongoing shift from industrial to mixed-uses, the Hasted Triangle Plan will foster a cohesive and functional neighborhood that's integrated with the greater Lincoln Park community," said Patti Scudiero, commissioner of the Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning. "As an official community plan, it will serve to guide government policies and public expectations as new development projects move forward."

Approximately 1 million square feet of industrial space, 1.3 million square feet of commercial space, and 1,040 residences are currently located in the area. The plan's objectives will reinforce their combined role as a buffer between the predominately residential uses to the east and north and the largely industrial uses to the west and south. To promote compatibility and quality-of-life enhancements within the study area, the plan targets several pedestrian-oriented improvements along local streets and the North Branch Canal. It also identifies key transit upgrades and presents design guidelines to ensure new buildings conform to the size and scale of existing structures.

Research for the plan started in 2008 and included market, parking and traffic studies; a community workshop; a design charrette; and coordination with local businesses, elected officials and planning consultants.

Specific priorities include:

A continuous walkway along the canal from North Avenue to Division Street

The development of public plazas on oddly shaped and hard-to-develop parcels

Widened sidewalks along North Avenue, Halsted Street and Clybourn Avenue

Improved on-street parking provisions along Kingsbury and other streets

Improved pedestrian access to the North/Clybourn subway stop

Development of new public transit connections at Division and Orleans streets

New traffic signals at the North/ Fremont and Halsted/ Eastman intersections

Established in 1909, the 22-member Chicago Plan Commission reviews community and strategic plans, large-scale development proposals and certain transactions involving publicly owned properties. Staff services are provided by the Planning and Policy Division of the Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning (DZP).